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Southwestern Historical Quarterly

division numerically weaker than Fannin's forces, to the Arroyode las Ratas, twenty-five miles nearer to Goliad than was Urrea'sbase at San Patricio. Fannin then had about four hundred andfifty splendidly armed men, well disciplined and drilled for aTexan volunteer army, brave, spirited, and eager for action. Theywere wholly unsuited for garrison duty, and must be used aggres-sively if to be used at all with any hope of success. Fannin andCuellar both knew that the Alamo would soon fall, and releasea portion of Santa Anna's army at Bexar to act with Urrea againstFannin. It was imperative that Fannin should at once eitherretreat behind the Guadalupe, which he considered that his ordersfrom the Provisional Government forbade his doing, or else beatUrrea before the latter could be reinforced by Santa, Anna.Cuellar's Indian-like cleverness delivered Urrea into his hand,and offered him his opportunity to fight with every a- .; . eof position, numbers, initiative, arms, morale and personnel.It is small wonder that when his irresolute commander failedto press home such an advantage the astute Cuellar quietly fadedfrom the pages of Texan history.